The ABC Movie of the Week Companion: a loving tribute to the classic series [Paperback]

Michael Karol (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2005

Movies made for television were in their infancy when ABC came up with a novel idea: a weekly series of films made exclusively for the small screen. The ABC Movie of the Week became a great success and a cultural touchstone for a generation of Americans.

More than 200 films in the series are reviewed, including such well-remembered titles as Duel, Tribes, The Six Million Dollar Man, Go Ask Alice, Brian’s Song, The Night Stalker, Bad Ronald, Starsky and Hutch, Trilogy of Terror, That Certain Summer, Killdozer, and many more. In addition, choice bits of trivia about the actors and films are sprinkled throughout the book.

With a Foreword by Denise Nickerson (of the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) and commentary by David Hedison (The Fly, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An outstanding job. Very entertaining and affectionate look at 243 TV movies...with humor, fun trivia, [and] concise, colorful reviews." -- Classic Images, November 2007

Every page of The ABC Movie of the Week Companion will set off a flood of memories. -- The Advocate, August 30, 2005

I had fond memories of these elusive classics and your book is a valuable, much-needed, and very entertaining reference tool. -- Paul Talbot, author and film historian, July 26, 2005

Karol does a commendable job, covering 243 films with humor and sass, and giving fun trivia related to the movies. -- Classic Images, December 2005

About the Author

Classic TV trivia expert Michael Karol lives in New York and avoids Native American fetish dolls. He is also the author of The Lucille Ball Quiz Book, Funny Ladies: Sitcom Queens, and Kiss Me, Kill Me. For more information, visit www.Sitcomboy.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (June 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595358365
• ISBN-13: 978-0595358366
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Karol is an award-winning New York-based entertainment journalist and author. His books include Lucy A to Z: The Lucille Ball Encyclopedia; The ABC Movie of the Week Companion; The Lucy Book of Lists: Celebrating Lucille Ball's Centennial and the 60th Anniversary of I Love Lucy; Sitcom Queens: Divas of the Small Screen; The TV Tidbits Classic Television Book of Lists; and KISS KILL: A Vampire's Tale. He has interviewed a long and eclectic list of performers, producers, writers and "experts" over the years, everyone from soap diva Susan Lucci to blues legend Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, songbird Phyllis Hyman and Dr. Jordan Grafman, chief of the Cognitive Neuroscience Section at the NIH; actors Eva La Rue, Kaye Ballard, Cameron Mathison, Debbi Morgan, Denise Nickerson, John Noble, Jane Connell, Gale Storm, Doris Singleton, Kathryn Joosten, Lindsay Hartley, and David Hedison, among many others; and behind-the-scenes movers and shakers like Wonderfalls creator Bryan Fuller and House, M.D.'s creator and executive producer, David Shore; I Love Lucy's film editor, Dann Cahn; and director William Asher, who helmed I Love Lucy and Bewitched, among other classics.

Michael has been quoted and referenced in magazines ranging from The Star to Rue Morgue, and in such books as 2003's Ball of Fire: The Tumultuous Life and Comic Art of Lucille Ball; 2004's Mixed Nuts: America's Love Affair with Comedy Teams From Burns & Allen to Belushi And Aykroyd; and 2008's How to Be Like Women of Power: Wisdom and Advice to Create Your Own Destiny. He has written for and been interviewed on the Web by sites like Theofantastique.com (http://www.theofantastique.com/2010/02/03/michael-karol-the-abc-movie-of-the-week/) and The Terror Trap (www.terrortrap.com). His own website can be found at www.Sitcomboy.com. Michael keeps a bottle of Vitameatavegamin by his computer for health and inspiration.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real trip down memory lane..., July 24, 2006

By 

Bruce J. Richards "B-Rich 11/7" (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The ABC Movie of the Week Companion: a loving tribute to the classic series (Paperback)

Growing up during the seventies, my mom's favorite programs were these ABC Movies of the Week. I often wound up watching the movies with her, if they were somewhat to my liking (surprisingly, there were quite a few horror/thriller varieties). A while back, my mom and I started to discuss some of those old movies, and we got them a bit confused. I found this book online, and it's been a great help. We can read a synopsis or summary, it's a case of, "Oh yeah, I remember THAT one!" My mom particularly loves the book, it really brings back a lot of memories for her.

It's interesting to note how many ABC TV series got their starts as pilot movies run on the ABC Movie of the Week-- The Six Million Dollar Man, Starsky and Hutch, The Rookies, etc.

The format and presentation is well-laid out; with a history and year-by-year listing, and air dates and a summary/synopsis of each movie. The only thing that could "punch it up" would be more graphics-- perhaps a still or shot from selected movies could help. After all, the TV movies were a visual medium.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, Funny Trip Down Memory Lane for Movie Fans, August 23, 2005

By 

Diane Tarlin - See all my reviews

This review is from: The ABC Movie of the Week Companion: a loving tribute to the classic series (Paperback)

I've been waiting for this book (as, I'm sure, were many others!). I used to watch the ABC Movie of the Week every Tuesday and Wednesday -- it was must-see TV in our house -- and I remember some of them so vividly it's scary (like Karen Black and that horrible killer doll). Since very few of these flicks have been released on video or DVD, this is the next best thing: an entertaining, often very funny, look back at almost all the movies in the series, with lots of trivia thrown in for good measure. The author has done all movie fans a service by getting the stats on these films down in print. A must for any movie-lover's personal library!

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh the Memories!, September 2, 2005

By 

Amanda By Night (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The ABC Movie of the Week Companion: a loving tribute to the classic series (Paperback)

Being the rabid TV Movie nut I am, this book is a godsend. A short, concise guide to some of my favorite titles from that golden era of TVMs, "The ABC Movie of the Week Companion" also includes some interesting facts about the program, like salaries and ratings, as well as a fun introduction by the lovely Denise Nickerson (who DIDN'T have a crush on Scott Jacoby in the 70s?!?). And I thought I was the only one who remembered "Isn't It Shocking?"!!! A must for nostalgia buffs...